Harding upsets Westhill in state playoff opener

Scott Ericson

Updated 10:58 pm, Tuesday, March 11, 2014

Harding's Terrence Rogers pulls Weshill's CJ Donaldson away from the loose ball during their Class LL basketball game at Westhill High School in Stamford, Conn., on Tuesday, March 11, 2014. Harding won, 66-61.

From behind, Westhill's Juan De La Cruz swats the rebound away from Harding's Kanard Codrington during their Class LL basketball game at Westhill High School in Stamford, Conn., on Tuesday, March 11, 2014. Harding won, 66-61.
Photo: Jason Rearick

Westhill's Jeremiah Livingston lays the ball in uncontested during the Vikings' Class LL basketball game against Harding at Westhill High School in Stamford, Conn., on Tuesday, March 11, 2014. Harding won, 66-61.
Photo: Jason Rearick

Harding's Terrence Rogers puts up a shot while under pressure from Westhill's Evan Skoparantzas during their Class LL basketball game at Westhill High School in Stamford, Conn., on Tuesday, March 11, 2014. Harding won, 66-61.
Photo: Jason Rearick

Harding's Kanard Codrington puts up a shot while under pressure from Westhill's Jeremiah Livingston during their Class LL basketball game at Westhill High School in Stamford, Conn., on Tuesday, March 11, 2014. Harding won, 66-61.
Photo: Jason Rearick

Harding's T.J. Killings saves the ball from going out of bounds while under pressure from Westhill's Evan Skoparantzas during their Class LL basketball game at Westhill High School in Stamford, Conn., on Tuesday, March 11, 2014. Harding won, 66-61.
Photo: Jason Rearick

Westhill's Jeremiah Livingston and Harding's Malcolm Simmons compete for the loose ball during their Class LL basketball game at Westhill High School in Stamford, Conn., on Tuesday, March 11, 2014. Harding won, 66-61.
Photo: Jason Rearick

Westhill's Evan Skoparantzas (#5) snares the rebound away from Harding's Tyzhon Dixon during their Class LL basketball game at Westhill High School in Stamford, Conn., on Tuesday, March 11, 2014. Harding won, 66-61.

Westhill's Juan De La Cruz puts up a shot over Harding's Tyzhon Dixon during their Class LL basketball game at Westhill High School in Stamford, Conn., on Tuesday, March 11, 2014. Harding won, 66-61.
Photo: Jason Rearick

Westhill's Jeremiah Livingston puts up a shot over Harding's Zachary Stewart during their Class LL basketball game at Westhill High School in Stamford, Conn., on Tuesday, March 11, 2014. Harding won, 66-61.
Photo: Jason Rearick

Harding's Terrence Rogers puts up a shot while under pressure from Westhill's Evan Skoparantzas during their Class LL basketball game at Westhill High School in Stamford, Conn., on Tuesday, March 11, 2014. Harding won, 66-61.
Photo: Jason Rearick

Harding's William Figueroa puts up a three-pointer as Westhill's Jeremiah Livingston watches during their Class LL basketball game at Westhill High School in Stamford, Conn., on Tuesday, March 11, 2014. Harding won, 66-61.
Photo: Jason Rearick

Harding head coach Charles Clemons talks to his team during their Class LL basketball game against Westhill at Westhill High School in Stamford, Conn., on Tuesday, March 11, 2014. Harding won, 66-61.
Photo: Jason Rearick

Westhill head coach Howard White shouts orders to his team during their Class LL basketball game against Harding at Westhill High School in Stamford, Conn., on Tuesday, March 11, 2014. Harding won, 66-61.
Photo: Jason Rearick

Harding's T.J. Killings celebrates a call in the Presidents' favor during their Class LL basketball game against Westhill at Westhill High School in Stamford, Conn., on Tuesday, March 11, 2014. Harding won, 66-61.
Photo: Jason Rearick

STAMFORD -- Normally when you hear a coach discussing his team's sloppy play after a game it's a negative.

But when Harding boys coach Charles Clemons said it Tuesday night he could not have been paying his team a bigger compliment.

Using a frantic, at times chaotic style, the No. 25 Presidents upset No. 8 Westhill 66-61, advancing to the Class LL second round, where they will No. 9 Hillhouse in New Haven Thursday.

"Keep it sloppy," Clemons said. "That's the way we want to play. Attack it, play sloppy. Play like a chili cheese dog. When you eat it, it's just sloppy. We have seniors that have not had too much success but they played tonight."

Westhill (16-5) opened up an 8-0 lead early with Clemons yelling "shoot it" at his players as soon as they touched the ball.

His players are used to a fast pace but several looked back at their coach like he had lost it.

"They are looking at me like I'm crazy. Shoot the ball!" Clemons said. "It works. I am trying to make it easier for them because when teams play zone against us, we play passive and I'd rather shoot than turn it over."

The first several shots after an early timeout missed the target but the Presidents (11-10) crept back into the game by snatching offensive rebounds and following up with baskets.

Sophomore guard Zachary Stewart heeded his coach's advice, firing from well behind the 3-point line, hitting three in the second quarter and six for the game to finish with 18 points.

"Yeah I was feeling it. This was game night and I was feeling it," Stewart said. "Coach was yelling `Shoot!' and I took it and did it. It feels great, I am excited, I mean, we were the underdogs, so, it means a lot to us to move on."

The style of play took Westhill out of rhythm as it struggled to execute fundamentals as the game got wilder.

"Their coach is yelling `shoot it, shoot it' and instead of us getting out on shooters, we allowed guys to throw up 3s," Westhill coach Howard White said. "On the defensive end we didn't close in and do what we needed to do. We definitely got caught up. We gave them too many shots. They killed us on the boards and that should not have happened. We should not have been letting guys get second, third and fourth shots."

The most work on the offensive glass was by forward Tyzhon Dixon, who finished with 15 points, all in the paint and most on second-chance opportunities.

Harding led 48-43 after three but Westhill rallied behind 3-pointers by Livingston, Donaldson and Tyrell Alexander, tying the score 55-55 midway through the final quarter.

With the game tied, it was Stewart once again hitting a deep 3, giving his team back the lead.

Stewart and the Presidents have had a roller-coaster season, losing several key players to academics and losing seven of their final 10 games.

"Oh man, (Stewart) was great," Clemons said. "His brother flunked off and Zach bailed us out tonight. He had six 3s and that's invaluable. This is a testament to these kids. Harding doesn't have the best reputation but we are just trying to be a beacon of hope on the East Side of Bridgeport."